Streaming Solar Wind and More (April 2, 2010)

The Heliospheric Imager (HI) on the STEREO Ahead spacecraft observed as
solar wind streamed from the Sun and three coronal mass ejections
(CMEs), which appear as more distinct, elongated clouds, expanded into
space over a 15-day period (Mar. 11- 25, 2010). The HI instruments on
each of the two STEREO spacecraft are off-pointed from the Sun to
observe a 20 degree field of view to the left and the right of the Sun,
beginning four degrees from the Sun?s center. Its sensitive instruments
are attuned to observing the faint structures and particle streams
billowing out from the Sun. With the two perspectives scientists are
gaining a better understanding of how solar wind and CME structures
evolve as they head into space. Solar wind constantly streams away from
the Sun, while CMEs are less frequent but much more powerful clouds of
particles caused by solar explosions.

SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after
sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural
History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is
displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display.

If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us
for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send
your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov.